Main navigation - Deals

Exploring Calgary and Banff without a Car

Carless Travel

Exploring Calgary and Banff without a Car

Travel from Calgary to Banff without a car for a trip you will never forget.

June 15th, 2018

Check two destinations off your bucket list and discover why Calgary and Banff were made for each other. Banff is just 90 minutes west of Calgary with several inexpensive options to get there. Explore the energy of urban life in Calgary and the natural beauty of Banff National Park without a car.

Get to Banff for $10

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to get to Banff is the On-It Transitservice. Buses run a direct route from Calgary to Banff and fare is only $10 each way, so you can create a schedule that suits your individual plans. The shuttle runs during weekends and holidays from May 19 to September 3, 2018.

Buses depart from Downtown Calgary (Southbound 1 Street at 8 Ave SW) and the Crowfoot LRT Station (141 Crowfoot Way NW). Buses depart Banff from The Banff High School (330 Banff Ave). Tickets go on sale three weeks in advance of your departure and it is recommended to book your trip early.

The Brewster Express is a comfortable and convenient way to explore without a car.

Let someone else do the driving on the Brewster Express.

Other Easy Ways to Get to Banff

Check out more great ways to travel from Calgary to Banff without a car:

Brewster Express: Brewster Express provides direct shuttle service from YYC Calgary International Airport to Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Kananaskis, and Jasper. One way adult fares start at $71.00 and you can save 15% when you book a round trip.

Banff Airporter: The Banff Airporter offers a flexible schedule of service between Calgary and Banff, starting as early as 5:00 a.m. and departing as late as 10:30 p.m. from Calgary International Airport. Fares start at $66.99.

Carpooling: Sharing a ride with friends and family from Calgary to Banff is a great way to save money. You can also check Carpool World to find other travellers and locals looking to carpool from Calgary to Banff. Stay safe when using online car pool services like Carpool World.

Canmore to Banff by Bus: If your travels have already taken you to Canmore, you can park in town and take Roam Transit Route 3 to get from Canmore into Banff for only $2.00.

Canmore to Banff by Bike: Take the scenic route and travel from Canmore to Banff on the Banff Legacy Trail for a 2-3 hour ride through the mountains.

Explore Banff without a Car

There are plenty of things to do and ways to explore the Town of Banff as well as many of the big experiences in Banff National Park without a vehicle. The Town of Banff is very walkable, with the main street of Banff Avenue being a popular pedestrian friendly street that runs through the centre of town. Full of shops, restaurants, and photo-worthy sights, you can spend the whole day exploring on foot.

To explore Banff National Park, Roam Transit offers both local and regional bus services in the area. Roam Transit travels throughout the Town of Banff, as well as Canmore and Lake Minnewanka, with one way adult fares for $2.00 or purchase a one day pass for $5.00.

Or hop on board Parks Canada Shuttlesfor daily service from the Banff train station to Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, for between $5.00 and $10.00, round trip.

Exploring Calgary by bike is a great way to experience the city. Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Mike Seehagel

Explore Calgary without a Car

Explore all the great things to see and do in Calgary without a car:

Walk: Explore Calgary neighbourhoods on foot and get a unique perspective of the city. The Beltline, Inglewood, Kensington, East Village, and Chinatown are full of great restaurants, shops, and festivals that are accessible with a 10 – 30 minute walk of downtown Calgary.

Calgary Transit:Calgary Transit is an efficient and inexpensive way to explore Calgary withouta car. Bus routes and two C-Train lines make it easy to navigate almost anywhere in the city. The C-Train is free to ride between City Hall Station and Downtown West/Kerby Station in the downtown core.

Taxi: Taxi and cab services in Calgary are a great way to get direct access to your next destination. You can download the Checker Yellow Cab mobile app to book a taxi on your phone.

Car2Go: Car2Go allows users to borrow from a fleet of hundreds of vehicles and drive as much or as little as they need to. Smart Cars (for up to two passengers) and Mercedes B-Class cars (for up to five passengers) are available. Car2Go memberships from other cities in North America are valid for use in Calgary.

Rideshare: Ridesharing applications like Uber and Pink Car are available in Calgary and are a great way to safely navigate throughout the city.

Bike: Calgary is home to the most extensive network of urban bike paths of any city in North America. Explore the pathways and bikewaysin Calgary with a service like Nomad Gear Rentals, ready to deliver bicycles (and other adventure gear) right to your hotel room door and pick it up when you’re done.